A few weeks ago, I wrote about the writer strike and how nobody has died from not watching new TV. Guess what. As far as I can tell, still nobody has died. Life goes on without TV.

In the long run, the strike may change the face of Hollywood forever…and not as intended by the writers.

Seth Godin recently wrote about lessons learned from the demise of the music industry. The music industry is evolving. Big, over-produced stars are being replaced with smaller niche artists. More variety is going to push the industry out of creative stagnation. The music industry is not alone.

The writer strike is forcing the TV audience to look elsewhere for entertainment. On the one hand, the studio executives will feel the crunch–exactly the hope of the writers. On the other hand, who is to say the audience will flock back to their couches once the strike is over? The longer the strike, the more difficult it will be to bring the viewers back. Writers will have lost their audience just like everyone else who is part of the production. Americans will always enjoy TV, but we just might find we like other things, too.

(On a side note, I find it interesting that while “on strike” many writers continue to receive residual royalties for past productions…along with the studio execs and the actors. Sure, it isn’t as much as they’d like, but it is a lot more than everyone else involved on a production is receiving now. I’m glad my career as an audio editor didn’t take me into the TV industry. Selfish writers would’ve put me and my family out on the streets.)

The Golden Globe awards have been canceled because the actors support the writers in their endeavor. A spokesperson for the awards commented on the radio this morning, “It is too bad. It is usually a great opportunity for fans to celebrate the accomplishments of their favorite actors.”

Actually, it is great that the show won’t be on. Actor accomplishments are not something to celebrate. It is entertainment. I like it. You probably like it, too. But why do we need to give them awards while the whole world watches?

It is time to find something else to do. Personally, I’ve enjoyed watching less TV. I’ve been able to finish freelance projects quicker, I’ve spent more time practicing the piano and guitar, and I’ve spent more time teasing Daphne. I have been known to watch The Amazing Race and plenty of cooking shows, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy life without the burden of TV.

The family had gathered together to sing a few songs before bed. Dad played his guitar while the children sang “Old MacDonald.”Suddenly a knock on the door was heard. A package of cookies and a note were found on the doorstep. The ghost-shaped note informed the family that they had been SPOOKED!

To avoid being spooked again, the family was instructed to display the note on their door. They were also instructed to spook two other families within two days.

Yes. This happens every year. No. It is not scary. For some reason though, Asher and Daphne were completely freaked out by the experience.

“What are you guys afraid of?”

“SPOOKED!” replies Asher.

“You mean, this piece of paper and package of cookies?”

Asher and Daphne nod.

“Yes. I can see how this is very scary for you. So, being spooked means you get some cookies; and you guys are afraid of cookes?”

“Well, last year we got a bag of candy,” says Asher.

“Good point, Asher.”

At this point I can see it is not going to be easy to get them to go to bed. Then I realize the instructions on the note hold the answer.

“Asher let’s read the note again…”

[I read the note]

“So what do we have to do so we don’t get spooked?”

“Hang the note on the door!” exclaims Asher.

I’m sure this will put an end to the kids’ fear, but it doesn’t. Two little kids still have horrified looks on their little faces. Neither will go to bed without someone to stay with them for a while. Good thing Teague is old enough that he isn’t scared.

“Teague, Asher and Daphne are scared of being spooked.”

(Teague thinks this is amusing.)

“I need you to lay down with Asher for a few minutes while I lay down with Daphne–just until they calm down.”

“Hey!” yells Asher, “I want Daddy to be with me!”

“Okay. we’ll do it the other way around.”

Teague agrees to the plan. We get the kids in bed. I climb in with Asher and try to calm him down by talking about something completely different. (I don’t remember what it was.) Asher is about to fall asleep. Then his eyes pop open, “Dad, how can we make a copy of the note if it is hanging on our door?”

“We’ll take it down to make the copies. Go to sleep.”

“NOOO! We can’t do that! We’ll get spooked again!”

Just then, I hear Teague finish telling Daphne a story. Assuming he is done with his job, he comes into Asher’s bedroom and explains, “I told Daphne a ghost story, but at the end of the story the ghost dies. So, now she won’t be afraid because the ghost is dead.”

“Thanks, Teague. Good job. Why don’t you go ahead and get in your own bed while I go check on Daphne. I’m sure she’s not scared at all now that you’ve told her your best ghost story.”

Quite an exciting night. I hope the families we spook will be equally afraid of our goodwill.

Teague and Asher went on their first fishing trip this weekend. We went to Adam’s Canyon. They did a great job on the long hike into the canyon. Asher managed to get his pants and shoes wet after we had been there for about 2 minutes.

Each of them caught a couple of trout. We didn’t keep any.

This is Asher’s first fish. It was only a little longer than the worm we used to catch it. You might need to zoom in to see it.

Teague and Asher worked together on this one. Teague got to reel it in and hold it for the picture:

We decided to go somewhere without such a long hike next time. Of course, it will have to meet my other criteria: no fee for parking or entrance.

Am I the only one who spends most of his life waiting? I remember waiting to be done with high school…then college. I also waited for just the right girl to come along so we could be married. I guess I’ve always thought I’d be done waiting someday…then things will start to happen. I’m realizing that waiting a big part of life.

I’ve figured out there are two kinds of waiting:

Waiting for things that I’d like to speed up.

Waiting for things I’d like to slow down.

Waiting for things I’d like to speed up

Right now I’m waiting to be out of debt. I made a plan while back. We’ve stuck to it pretty closely–adjusting it slightly along the way. Now it is just a waiting game. As long as I stick to my day job and keep spending under control, all the bills will be paid and our debt is reduced more and more every two weeks. It all happens automatically. So, I just wait for it to take care of itself and check in from time to time to make sure we’re on track.

I’m also waiting for one of my ideas to make it big. TheBigFork looks promising. Sam and I have always had ideas. We’ve gotten pretty good at executing them, too. Really the only problem is nobody ever notices. Now that the site is launched. I guess I’m waiting for it to be noticed.

Waiting for things I’d like to slow down

At the same time I’d like to speed up certain parts of life, I also want to slow it down. Lately it seems like weeks pass faster than the days did in high school. It worries me that I’m getting older and missing life as it passes by.

Fortunately, there are things like vacations to help slow it down. Next month, Sam and Dad and I are going on a backpacker campout. I’m not sure where we’re going, but it we’ll be gone two nights and parts of three days. I’m sure my Blackberry will be out of range, and books are too heavy for backpacking in to camp. So, what am I going to do with myself all day? I have no idea, but it will probably be a nice, long, no-stress day.

No More Waiting

My resolution for the day? Stop waiting. Take action to speed up certain things. Reserve time to slow things down. How to do it? I haven’t figured that part out yet. Maybe I’ll figure that out tomorrow.